The Art of Pretentious Beer Speak: Confessions from the Craft Brewing Community

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation about craft beer, trying to sound knowledgeable, only to realize you’re tossing around jargon you barely understand? If you have, then you’re certainly not alone. Recently, at a bottle share event, I experienced a moment that perfectly encapsulated this phenomenon.

As the evening progressed, one enthusiastic beer enthusiast opened a barrel-aged sour. Caught in the excitement, I found myself proclaiming how I “truly appreciated the characteristic brett interacting with the oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.” The catch? I had no clue what phenolic compounds actually were. It seemed like I was mixing together a smattering of wine terms with snippets from a brewing podcast I had listened to once.

What made this experience even more amusing was the collective nods of approval from those around me. Bolstered by their enthusiasm, I decided to keep the charade going, adding a comment about the beer’s ability to “express local terroir through indigenous microflora.” At that moment, I feared I had crossed into the realm of utter pretentiousness.

Reflecting on the past month, I recalled another instance where I described a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity.” In all honesty, I simply meant it had a thick texture. It was all just a jumble of craft beer buzzwords strung together, as if I was playing a game of craft beer Mad Libs.

This leads me to wonder: Are we all just echoing terms and phrases we’ve overheard, hoping no one will call us out on our vague musings? As we indulge in the culinary art of brewing, it’s important to remember that the beauty of beer lies in the enjoyment of its flavors, not necessarily in how well we can articulate them. So, the next time you find yourself grasping for words to describe that latest brew, take a moment to appreciate its taste instead of falling into the trap of craft beer jargon. After all, it’s all about the experience—no pretentious vocabulary required!